Aquatic, farm produce exports to Netherlands on the rise

Shrimp processing for exports. Vietnam's aquatic product exports to the Netherlands enjoyed a substantial jump of 15.4 percent in the first half. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s aquatic product exports to the Netherlands enjoyed a substantial jump of 15.4 percent to 101 million USD in the first half of the year, paving the way for the shipment growth in the European market.

The export of aquatic products to the western nation experienced a fall in 2015 and 2016. The recovery in the market will spur seafood consumption in the EU market after a steep decline due to issues related to exchange rates, economics and politics.

The Netherlands has been a stable import market of Vietnamese aquatic products as the country purchases not only for domestic consumption but also re-export to nations in the EU bloc, according to Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Food safety and hygiene, and a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU which will take effect at the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018 have prompted the EU countries to increase imports of Vietnamese aquatic products, particularly shrimps, VASEP said.

Vietnam’s cashew nut exports to the Netherlands also enjoyed a considerable hike in the first half of the year. The country sold 222.5 million USD worth of cashew nuts in the market, up 37.6 percent from the same period last year. The Netherlands became the second largest importer of Vietnamese cashew nuts, behind the US (543.3 million USD).

In his recent official visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded the country’s support for the sustainable development of the Vietnamese food industry. On the occasion, Vietnam invited the Netherlands to attend the Vietnam International Food Industry Exhibition 2018 (Vietnam Foodexpo 2018) as an honourable guest.

Hoe said that the event will bring the images of Vietnamese foods, including aquatic products, closer to consumers in the Netherlands as well as other EU countries, especially those with high demand.